Playing with Words (Boggy Creek Valley 2)

I let another chuckle slip free as I picked up my glass of wine. “No, I didn’t want to buy it myself. I want to focus on Turning Pages and this building.”

The corners of his mouth twitched. “Have you ever thought of having a business partner?”

Setting my wine down on the table, I jerked my chin toward him. “I’m listening.”

He gave me a full-blown smile, and I nearly swooned at the sight of his dimples. “Well, a few months down the line, when we fully commit to living together…”

“Pretty sure about that, are you?” I mused.

His eyes fell to my mouth, then he jerked them back up to meet my gaze. “Yes, I’m pretty sure.” Clearing his throat, he said, “Like I was saying, when things work out and you move into the new house with me…if that’s what you want…we could think about converting this place into an event center.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “An event center?”

“Yeah, I was thinking about it while we were touring the Steck place. With the rooftop terrace, you could do small parties and such up there. You could have meetings in the actual living space. With the kitchen already here, you could knock down the walls between a couple of the rooms and you’d have a pretty large area to entertain. The view from the roof deck alone is worth it for small events. You could keep the bedrooms you have on the fourth floor for offices, or something like that. Even a smaller event space. The possibilities are endless.”

I nodded, letting his suggestions settle into my brain. I loved living here and had always thought I would take over my folks’ house when they moved into something smaller. But with Hudson buying the Steck home, the idea of doing something with this space was now taking root.

“We could do the monthly book club meetings up on the roof deck,” I said. “We could even hold the annual Christmas masquerade ball that the city puts on, especially if we remove some walls and make it a larger area. Hudson, this is an amazing idea.”

A proud smile spread over his face. “I know we said we were going to take things slowly, but I do have some things I’d like to do to the house, and I would really value your input…especially if you live there with me.”

I wanted to jump across the table and kiss him.

“You want to hear my ideas?” I asked, my voice dropping down to a lower tone.

“Yes, of course, I do,” he said. “Greer, when I see my future, I see you. Maybe a baby or two, if that’s something you want.”

Slowly standing, I dropped my napkin down to my plate and walked around the table to Hudson. I leaned down and placed my mouth inches from his ear.

“I think we should move this baby-making conversation to the bedroom and dive deeper into it.”

His chair nearly fell back as Hudson quickly stood. “Agreed. Let’s go.”

When he took my hand and nearly dragged me to my bedroom, I felt my cheeks ache from smiling so widely.

If there was one thing that life would never be with Hudson Higgins, it was boring. Never boring at all.

When we got into my bedroom, Hudson picked me up and placed me softly on the bed. “I do have a question I need to ask you, Greer. You know, to make it official and all.”

I searched his face as I smiled and whispered, “I’m listening.”

“Well, now that I bought you a big ol’ historical building for your bookstore, and stumbled upon your dream home by accident, it seems only fitting I ask this next question.”

I could see the teasing in his eyes and loved it. I loved where our future was heading, and Hudson Higgins was, without a doubt, the man I wanted to go on this journey with. “Ask me.”

With that smile and those dimples on full display, he leaned down, kissed me softly on the lips, and asked…

“Will you move into a super old house that needs tons of repairs and remodeling and help me make it the home I know it can be?”

Not even taking a moment to think about it, I replied… “I think the bigger question here is, will you let me get a dog?”

Hudson tried not to laugh. “Yes, and I’ll even let you get a cat, on one condition.”

With a raised brow, I asked, “And that condition is?”

“You let me read the book you wrote.”

I chewed on my lip, rolled over, and pulled open the drawer on the bedside table. Reaching in, I pulled out a folder. I sat up and turned to face Hudson.

“Is that it?” he asked.

Nodding, I said, “This is it.”

Hudson’s eyes bounced from the manuscript up to my face. He reached out and took it from my hands, then slid off the bed.